Process for decorating wood or similar materials



Feb. 2, 1937.

K. ElcHsTAD-r 2,069,228

PROCESS FOR DECORATING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIALS Filed Nov. 24, 1933 zo er 15M www Patented F eb.` l2, 1937 UNITED ASTATES PROCESS FOB DECORATING S MATERIAL 'gvoon on Karl Eichstdt, Charlottenburg, Germany, as-

signor to Oxford Varnish Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan vApplication November 24, 1933, Serial No. 699,535

Germany November 26,. 19

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a process for decorat- 'ingwood or similar materials, and is especially concerned with thepreparation of the surface to be decorated.

It is well known that relief, offset and intaglio printing processes have been used to print or decorate the surfaces of inexpensive woods with various patterns.' In many instances, photomechanical reproductions have been applied to wood vsurfaces by these processes. However, such methods of decorating the wood surfaces have been used with little success and with great disadvantages. -The printing colors or inks were either absorbed by the wood surface, or they did not adhere to the surface grains or hard spots of the wood. In the iirst instance; the quantity of color absorbed by the wood was so great that the result -was a faded appearance. In the second instance, the color would peel or `was easily wiped or rubbed from the surface of the top grain.

Another disadvantage encountered in the past has been the inability to match the printing colors to the available kinds of woods, especially when it was desired to match colors true to nature, as in the case of the reproduction of imitation wood finishes and the like, as well as in instances where accurate contrasts and sharp- U ness of image was desired. This was due to the high color absorption characteristic of the softer parts of the'wood surface. Hence, in the past it has been practical to limit the printing on wood to instances where large surfaces were desired,

and where the appearance of ultimate product vwas to create a generalimpression rather than to bring out iine details and tones. Even in such instances, because of the care required to keep the above-named disadvantages at a the decorating of wood lsurfaces has been expensive.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of decorating materials, such as wood surfaces and the like, in a manner as to overcome the disadvantages heretofore mentioned, and which method will be simple and capable of being carried out economically.

Another object of the present invention is to l provide a method of treating the surfaces of wood and other similar materials, so that such surfaces may be decorated by ordinary printing processes in an economical manner.

A further object is to provide a method for decorating wood or similar surfaces in instances where accurate tonal reproductions and sharpnea; of image are required of the ultimate product.

`In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a section illustrating diagrammatically an object to be decorated; Figs.

2, 3 and 4 are sections illustrating the object shown in Fig. 1, after different steps in my method have been performed thereon. 5

When it is desired to decorate a surface such as the surface I0 of the block or slab Il, shown in Fig. 1, and which may be birch, maple or any other variety of close grained wood or similar brous or porous material, the surface of the 10 material is rst carefully sanded and then treated or coated with a glue and glycerine compound I2. Such compound generally comprises to 98% of pure cabinet glue, Similar to material used in the manufacture of furniture to which is added 15 from 1 to 2% glycerine to render the surface slightly more iiexible.

This glue compound is heated to thin the glue and render it more fluid, and applied to the surface to be decorated as hot as possible, so that the glue compound will readily be absorbed by the wood or material to be decorated. I'he surplus glue is then removed from the surface, as, for instance, by a scraper Il, as shown in Fig. 3, care being used to leave a :line iilm of glue over 25 the surface so that the surface grains will be covered,'to the end that the colors will adhere suiiiciently thereto so that they will permanently remain on the surface.

-When using ordinary production methods, 30 there is an intermission of several hours between the application of the glue compound and the ultimate decoration of the surface, during which time the compound dries without theuse of baking ovens or other-articial After this glue lm has dried, the material is decorated by a usual printing process by applying the design-in color l5 and thereafter providing a nish or protecting coat I 6 in the usual manner, without encountering any of the disad- 40 vantages heretofore set forth. I find that woods treated in such manner are especially well adapted for printing or decorating by the well-known intaglio prinin'ng processes.

In certain instances, such, for instance, when it 45 is ldesired to decorate woodssuch as poplar. aider and the like, which are porous and have a light grain or other porous similar materials, I 11nd it desirable to use a coating of a colorless substance, as a filler, and for this purpose I prefer to use 50 blanc fix, or as it is commonly called, barium sulphate, in a vehicle, such as; for instance, the glue compound heretofore mentioned. The proportion of powdered barium sulphate required varies, of course, with the porodty of the material 55 drying apparatus. 35

to be coated'. Suce it to say that for 700 parts of the liquid glue compound. from 2 to 400 parts of barium sulphate is used.

When an undertone is desired of the ultimate decorated article, a portion of the barium sulphate is replaced with a color pigment, as, for instance, when replacing part of the barium sulphate with an umber, a brown undertone will result. The tone may be varied, as desired, to secure any tonal effect required. This solution is applied asv heretofore explained in connection with the glue compound, and has been formed to provide a surface which is especially adapted for use when letter press or relief printing methods are used to decorate the article.

Both of the above named solutions provide a primer coat which is in harmony with the inks and other ingredients of the` top or decorating coats; that is, these primer coats are nitrocelluv such oils as mineral oils, are avoided,

.nitceuuiose proof and this is determined to a great extent upon the capacity of the oil to oxidize. Hence, oils having a high polymerization are preferably'used for this purpose.

From the foregoing description, it is readily apparent that I have provided a simple, eicient and economical method of preparing wood or similar surfaces, so that such surfaces may be decorated by the usual printing methods, and that articles produced by my readily similate natural objects having sharpness of image and contrasting tones.

It is also evident that my improved method permits woods, such as gum woods, pine, spruce and other inexpensive woods to be grained or decorated by well-knoWn-printingprocesses 'to simulate the more expensive woods, such as mahogany, walnut and the like.

The method of decorating wood surfaces, comprising heating a transparent liquid compound improved method will including glue, glycerine and barium sulphate,

applying such compound to the surface to be decorated, removing part of such coating by a scraping action, leaving a thin, even surfaced layer of such compound over the entire surface to be decorated, drying the coated surface, thereafter decorating the wood surface by a printing operation to simulate a more expensive wood, and finally applying a wearing coat to the decorated surface.

v KARL EICHSTDT. 

